Necessary Christian Reading

The following is a bibliography of recommended reading for all Christians, regardless of denomination. I have included enough books in the list to sufficiently challenge something for everybody. We should not look at challenges to where we are as evil things but as opportunities to expand our knowledge of God, "Christianity," and the Church.

Why do I provide a list of reading? Because as Christians we are charged with the defense of the faith (1 Pet. 3:15). We are all involved in a spiritual war, all caught in a struggle between the Kingdom of Christ and the Kingdom of Satan (Matt. 12:30). We are soldiers in this war (1 Tim. 1:18; 2 Tim. 2:4), and given spiritual weapons (2 Cor. 10:4; Eph. 6:12-18). Our orders are to conduct search-and-destroy missions against every resistance to the Gospel of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). And even the very gates of hell will break against the power of Christ through His people, the Church (Matt. 16:18). This condition will continue until Christ has made His enemies his footstool (Acts 2:34-35; Rev. 3:21) through us, the Church (Rom. 16:20). Then comes the end of the world (1 Cor. 15:20-28) and the new heavens and new earth (Rev. 21-22).

Of course, our charge to defend the faith does not mean that everyone has to be a complete expert in every field of knowledge. Lord help us if it were so! But we should have answers to people's questions, even if they aren't technically detailed. Thus, most of the following books are general overviews or outlines, though some focus on specific areas being fought today. We should always keep in mind this statement by the great Martin Luther:

If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the Word of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Him. Where the battle rages there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battle front besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.’ (Luther’s Works, Weimar Edition, Briefwechsel [Correspondence], vol. 3, pp. 81f.)

* means highly recommended. In other words, start here!

Basic Christianity

75 Questions Your Instructors Pray You Won't Ask, Gary North

Basic Christianity, John Stott

Basic Training: Plain Talk on the Key Truths of the Faith, R.C. Sproul

Christian Basics, John Stott

*Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, R.C. Sproul

*Evangelical Truth: A Personal Plea for Unity, Integrity & Faithfulness, John Stott

Judeo Christian Tradition: A Guide for the Perplexed, Gary North

Scripture Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine, R.C. Sproul

*Truth in All It's Glory: Commending the Reformed Faith, William Edgar

*Unconditional Surrender: God's Program for Victory, Gary North

New and Old Testament Studies
By Oath Consigned, Meredith Kline
Eschatology in the Old Testament, Geerhardus Vos
*Kingdom Prologue, Meredith Kline
Paul: An Outline of His Theology, Herman Ridderbos
Pauline Eschatology, Geerhardus Vos
*The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses, Vern S. Poythress

Hermeneutics and Preaching
Between Two Worlds, John R.W. Stott
*Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry, John Piper
Called to the Ministry, Edmund Clowney
Christ-Centered Preaching, Bryan Chapel
*God-Centered Biblical Interpretation, Vern S. Poythress
Has the Church Misread the Bible?: The History of Interpretation in Light of Current Issues, Moises Silva
Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics, Walter Kaiser and Moises Silva
Science and Hermeneutics: Implications of Scientific Method for Biblical Interpretation, Vern S. Poythress
*Symphonic Theology: The Validity of Multiple Perspectives in Theology, Vern S. Poythress
*The Supremacy of God in Preaching, John Piper
The New Hermeneutic, Cornelius Van Til

Typology
A Rebirth of Images, Austin Farrar
*Images of the Spirit, Meredith Kline
*Old Testament History, Homer Hoeksema
Promise and Deliverance, S.G. de Graaf
*Sola Scriptura: Problems and Principles of Preaching Historical Texts, Sidney Greidanus
Through New Eyes: Developing a Biblical View of the World, James B. Jordan

Covenant Theology
*Christ of the Covenants, O Palmer Robertson
*Jesus and Israel: One Covenant or Two?, David Holwerda
*That You May Prosper: Dominion by Covenant, Ray Sutton

Systematic Theology
*A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith, Robert Reymond
Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin
*Systematic Theology, Louis Berkhof
Systematic Theology, Charles Hodge
Systematic Theology, R.L. Dabney
*Systematic Theology, Rousas John Rushdoony
*Introduction to Systematic Theology, Cornelius Van Til

Biblical Theology
*Biblical Theology, Geerhardus Vos
Doctrine of God, Herman Bavinck
*Doctrine of God, John Frame
*Doctrine of the Knowledge of God, John Frame
Outlines of Theology, A.A. Hodge
Theology in Dialogue, John H. Gerstner

Historical Theology
Historical Theology, William Cunningham
*History of Christian Doctrine, Louis Berkhof

End Times/Eschatology
*An Eschatology of Victory, J. Marcellus Kik
Back to the Future: A Study in the Book of Revelation, Ralph E. Bass, Jr.
*Before Jerusalem Fell: Dating the Book of Revelation, Kenneth L. Gentry Jr.
*Church and Kingdom, Raymond O. Zorn
*He Shall Have Dominion: A Postmillennial Eschatology, Kenneth L. Gentry Jr.
*Israel and the New Covenant, Roderick Campbell
Israel in Bible Prophesy, John L. Bray
Kingdom Come: How Jesus Wants to Change the World, Allen Mitsuo Wakabayashi
*Paradise Restored: A Biblical Theology of Dominion, David Chilton
*Perilous Times: A Study in Eschatological Evil, Kenneth L. Gentry Jr.
Postmillennialism: An Eschatology of Hope, Keith A. Mathison
*The Beast of Revelation, Kenneth L. Gentry Jr.
*The Church, Edmund P. Clowney
The Coming of the Kingdom, Herman Ridderbos
*The Days of Vengence: An Exposition of the Book of Revelation, David Chilton
*The Greatness of the Great Commission: The Christian Enterprise in a Fallen World, Kenneth L. Gentry Jr.
*The Great Tribulation, David Chilton
**The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church, Peter J. Leithart
The Message from Patmos: A Postmillennial Commentary on the Book of Revelation, David S. Clark
*The Millennium, Loraine Boettner
Thy Kingdom Come: Studies in Daniel and Revelation, Rousas John Rushdoony

The Rapture
Armageddon NOW!, Dwight Wilson
*Last Days Madness, Gary DeMar
Millennialism and Social Theory, Gary North
Naming the Antichrist: The History of an American Obsession, Robert Fuller
*The Day and the Hour, Francis X. Gumerlock
*Rapture Fever: Why Dispensationalism Is Paralyzed, Gary North

Dispensationalism
*An Examination of Dispensationalism, William E. Cox
*Christian Zionism: Road-map to Armageddon?, Stephen Sizer
Darby, Dualism, and the Decline of Dispensationalism, Ronald M. Henzel
*Dispensationalism: Rightly Dividing the People of God?, Keith A. Mathison
*Doomsday Delusions: What's Wrong with Predictions About the End of the World, C. Marcin Pate and Calvin B. Haines
Gospel of the Kingdom: An Examination of Dispensationalism, Philip Mauro
*House Divided: The Break-Up of Dispensational Theology, Greg Bahnsen and Kenneth L. Gentry Jr.
Prophesy and the Church, Oswald T. Allis
The Great Rapture Hoax, Dave MacPherson
*The Incredible Cover-Up: Exposing the Origins of Rapture Theories, Dave MacPherson
The Three R's: Rapture, Revision, Robbery: Pretribulation Rapturism from 1830 to Hal Lindsey, Dave MacPherson
*The Rapture Plot, Dave MacPherson
Why I Left Scofieldism, William E. Cox
*Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth: A Critique of Dispensationalism, John H. Gerstner

Law and Grace
*By This Standard: The Authority of God's Law Today, Greg Bahnsen
*God's Law in the Modern World: The Continuing Relevence of Old Testament Law, Kenneth L. Gentry Jr.
*No Other Standard: Theonomy and its Critics, Greg Bahnsen
The Institutes of Biblical Law (3 vols.), Rousas John Rushdoony
*Theonomy: An Informed Response, Gary North (editor)
*Theonomy in Christian Ethics, Greg Bahnsen
Westminster's Confession: The Abandonment of Van Til's Legacy, Gary North

Society and Politics

*Changing of the Guard: Biblical Principles for Political Action, George Grant

Christian and Politics, Robert Thoburn

Christianity and the State, Rousas John Rushdoony

*Healer of the Nations: Biblical Principles for International Relations, Gary North

Millennialism and Social Theory, Gary North

*Political Polytheism: The Myth of Neutrality, Gary North

*Ruler of the Nations: Biblical Principles for Government, Gary DeMar

*Second Chance: Biblical Principles for Divorce and Remarriage, Ray Sutton

When Justice is Aborted: Biblical Standards for Non-Violent Resistance, Gary North

Education and Discipleship

*Making Kingdom Disciples: A New Framework, Charles H. Dunahoo

Teaching for a Change: A Transformational Approach to Education, Norman De Jong

The Children Trap: Biblical Principles for Education, Robert Thoburn

*The Harsh Truth About the Public Schools, Bruce N. Shortt

General Apologetics
A Christian Theory of Knowledge, Cornelius Van Til
*Always Ready, Greg Bahnsen
*Apologetics to the Glory of God, John Frame
*A Serrated Edge: A Brief Defense of Biblical Satire and Trinitarian Skylarking, Douglas Wilson
A Survey of Christian Epistemology, Cornelius Van Til
By What Standard?: An Analysis of the Philosophy of Cornelius Van Til, Rousas John Rushdoony
*Christian Apologetics, Cornelius Van Til
*Christian-Theistic Evidences, Cornelius Van TIl
Cornelius Van Til: An Analysis of His Thought, John Frame
*Defense of the Faith, Cornelius Van Til
*Reasons of the Heart: Recovering Christian Persuasion, William Edgar
Van Til's Apologetic: Readings and Analysis, Greg Bahnsen

Specific Apologetics

Creation and Science

Astronomy and the Bible, Don DeYoung
*Astronomy and Creation, Don DeYoung
*Biblical Creationism, Henry Morris
Creation and the Modern Christian, Henry Morris
*Did God Create in Six Days?, Joseph A. Pipa, Jr, and David W. Hall
*Dinosaurs and the Bible, Don DeYoung
*Genesis for Today, Andy McIntosh

*Is the World Running Down?: Crisis in the Christian Worldview, Gary North
Philosophy, Science, and the Sovereignty of God, Vern S. Poythress
Science and the Bible, Henry Morris
Starlight and Time, D. Russell Humphreys
The Beginning of the World, Henry Morris
The Biblical Basis for Modern Science, Henry Morris
The Genesis Flood: The Biblical Record and Its Scientific Implications, Henry Morris and John Whitcomb
The Genesis Record: A Scientific and Devotional Commentary on the Book of Beginnings, Henry Morris
*The Genesis Solution, Ken Ham and Paul Taylor
*The Young Earth, John Morris
Universe By Design, Danny Faulkner

Evolution
An Ice Age Caused by the Genesis Flood, Michael Oard
Bones of Contention, Revised and Updated, Martin Lubenow
*Buried Alive: The Startling Truth About Neanderthal Man, Jack Cuozzo
*Creation and Change, Douglas Wilson
*Creation and Time: A Report on the Progressive Creationist Book By Hugh Ross, Mark Van Bebber and Paul Taylor
*Creation Scientists Answer Their Critics, Duane Gish
Darwin's Black Box, Michael Behe
Darwin's Enigma, Luther Sunderland
*Did God Use Evolution?, Werner Gitt
*Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, Michael Denton
*Evolution: The Fossils Still Say No!, Duane Gish
Frozen in Time: The Woolly Mammoth, The Ice Age, and the Bible, Michael Oard
*Noah's Ark: A Feasability Study, John Woodmorappe
Plate Tectonics: A Different View, John K. Reed (editor)
*Refuting Compromise, Jonathan Sarfati
*Refuting Evolution, Jonathan Sarfati
*Refuting Evolution 2, Jonathan Sarfati
*The (Updated and Revised) Answers Book, Ken Ham et al.
The Biotic Message, Walter ReMine
*The Lie: Evolution, Ken Ham
*Unformed and Unfilled, Weston W. Fields
When Christians Roamed the Earth, Ken Ham et al.

UFOs and Aliens
*Alien Intrusion: UFOs and the Evolution Connection, Gary Bates
UFOs in the New Age: Extraterrestrial Messages & the Truth of Scripture, William M. Alnor

The New Age and Occultism
*Unholy Spirits: Occultism and New Age Humanism, Gary North
*The Gnostic Empire Strikes Back: An Old Heresy for the New Age, Peter Jones
*Spirit Wars: Pagan Revival in Christian America, Peter Jones
*The Making of the New Spirituality: The Eclipse of the Western Religious Tradition, James A. Herrick
The Counterfeit Christ of the New Age, Ron Rhodes

Mathematics
Truth and the Transcendent:The Origin, Nature, & Purpose of Mathematics, Larry L. Zimmerman
*Mathematics: Is God Silent?, James Nickel

Economics and Business
*An Introduction to Christian Economics, Gary North
*Doing Business God's Way: What Every Christian Called to the Marketplace Should Understand About God's Laws of Prosperity, Dennis Peacock
*Economics: Principles and Policy From a Christian Perspective, Tom Rose
Economics: The American Economy From a Christian Perspective, Tom Rose
Inherit the Earth: Biblical Principles for Economics, Gary North
*Productive Christians in an Age of Guilt-Manipulators: A Biblical Response to Ronald J. Sider, David Chilton

[Note: The following books are all part of Dr. North's Economic Commentary on the Bible. He plans to complete the set by 2012, when he will write another volume on Biblical economics based upon the information in these books. --ATR]
The Dominion Covenant: Genesis, Gary North
Moses and Pharaoh: Dominion Religion vs. Power Religion, Gary North
The Sinai Strategy: Economics and the Ten Commandments, Gary North
Tools of Dominion: The Case Laws of Exodus, Gary North
Boundaries and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Leviticus (4 vols.), Gary North
Leviticus: An Economic Commentary, Gary North
Sanctions and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Numbers, Gary North
Inheritance and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Deuteronomy (3 vols.), Gary North
Priorities and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Matthew, Gary North
Treasure and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Luke, Gary North
Sacrifice and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Acts, Gary North
Cooperation and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Romans, Gary North
Judgement and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on 1 Corinthians, Gary North
Hierarchy and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on 1 Timothy, Gary North

Condition of the Church
*Absolute Confusion: How Our Moral and Spiritual Foundations Are Eroding in This Age of Change, George Barna

The Next American Spirituality: Finding God in the Twenty-First Century, George Gallup and Timothy Jones

*The People's Religion: American Faith in the 90s, George Gallup and Jim Castelli

*The Second Coming of the Church, George Barna

Virtual America: What Every Church Leader Needs to Know About Ministering in an Age of Spiritual and Technological Revolution, George Barna

Vital Signs: Emerging Social Trends and the Future of American Christianity, George Barna

Eventually I will complete the list by adding sections on worship and liturgy, God, and various other books. For now, I just want to get the list posted.